Join a very small group for an unusual visit to Mexico’s state of Michoacán (MEECH-wa-cahn). Begin in colonial Morelia, continue to the villages of the Meseta Purepecha, and enjoy a finale on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, where Day of the Dead traditions are believed to be more dazzling, more beautiful, more colorful, and more elaborate than anywhere else in Mexico. Michoacán is similar in many ways to Oaxaca; they both offer breathtaking vistas, large indigenous populations, and strong arts and crafts traditions. Michoacán, however, has fewer tourists and you’ll find an innocence, simplicity, and lack of pretension here.
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Great For
Festival Celebration
Village Culture
Artistic Crafts
I loved meeting the artists ... visiting behind the garden gates ... walking in the marigold fields. I loved the unfolding of the Day of the Dead, arriving before the locals on the island of Janitzio, feeling a part of it ... We were travelers, not tourists.
Charmayne O.
Arrive in Morelia on a direct flight. You’ll be greeted and transferred to your lovely, centrally-located suite-hotel. Enjoy Mexican hot chocolate or other refreshments of your choosing, local-style, at the open-air portales located across from the Cathedral if flight times allow. This is a perfect setting for receiving your orientation to Michoacán.
Meals
Evening Snack
Lodging
Howard Johnsons or similar
BDay 2Uruapan / Purepecha Plateau / Angahuan Town
Today you will transfer to Uruapan and the “Meseta Purepecha,” a singular region of Mexico, a high tropical plateau, where avocados and macadamia nuts grow. You will arrive and settle into your lovely garden setting hotel, Mancion del Cupatitzio, before heading out to the town of Angahuan, where you’ll meet community members who will lead you by horseback to the volcanic remains of Paricutin, a volcano that erupted and covered the region with lava, in the 1940s. (You can choose to walk instead of horseback). You’ll enjoy a lunch of regional cuisine. Returning to your hotel, you’ll visit the lovely tropical gardens of the Eduardo Ruiz National Park, before enjoying a festive dinner of the local trout, so famous in this region.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Hotel Plaza Uruapan or similar
CDay 3Purepecha Plateau Communities
Today, you’ll visit the communities of Pomucuaran, Nurio, Cocucho, Zacan, and others, to see the incredible “Artesones”, restored temples in this region. Known as the “Ruta de Don Vasco”, you’ll learn about the work of Vasco de Quiroga and visit the “hospitals” (community centers) and temples erected in the 16th century to support the indigenous communities and Purépecha people. Learning skills that would last a lifetime, the Purépecha people today retain the legacy of Vasco de Quiroga, as we will see. Returning to Uruapan, your evening is at leisure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Hotel Plaza Uruapan or similar
DDay 4Patzcuaro
In the morning, transfer to Patzcuaro. En route, you will pay a visit to the local farmers who have been cultivating their marigold fields since May for the Day of the Dead celebrations. In this lakeside community, you can smell the lake air and the rich earth that combine to produce a bountiful harvest of marigolds. You’ll be invited to wander through the unending golden fields—an otherworldly experience!
When you arrive in Patzcuaro itself, you’ll be welcomed into your cozy B & B. Settle in for a three-night stay. The location could not possibly be better for imbibing the spirit of Day of the Dead. The flower market, a colorful hub of activity day and night leading up to the holiday, is right outside your front door. On a guided walking tour of Patzcuaro, visit the basilica, large and small town squares, and the House of Eleven Patios. The markets will be overflowing with Day of the Dead goodies, including food miniatures that locals buy for their family altars, and the dramatic, whimsical “Catrina” dolls—skeletons made of ceramic or wood and dressed in the highest of fashion. Evening at leisure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
EDay 5Tzintzuntzan Ruins and Santa Fe de la Laguna
After breakfast, you will travel to the lakeside ruins of the pre-Hispanic Purepecha empire in Tzintzuntzan. Little is known about the early Purepecha people, referred to as Tarascans by the Spanish, but it is believed that they are descendants of peoples from northwestern Mexico, known as the Chichimecas.
After visiting the present-day village and artisans of Tzintzuntzan, you’ll travel to the community of Santa Fe de la Laguna to learn about the work of Vasco de Quiroga with the Purepecha communities. We will enjoy a lunch of regional cuisine prepared by a local traditional cook. The rest of the evening is at your leisure, before your overnight at the B&B.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
FDay 6Janitzio
Rising before dawn, head out for an early morning boat journey across Lake Patzcuaro to the island community of Janitzio. Travel early in order to witness the Vigil of the Little Angels, where the souls of children who have died are visited. Following the return boat journey, the afternoon is free for you to stroll and shop in Patzcuaro, and to rest and relax for your nighttime departure to witness the all-night graveside vigils that take place in the communities surrounding Lake Patzcuaro. Here, you will undoubtedly further your understanding of the Mexican views about life and death.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
GDay 7Santa Clara del Cobre
On our final day in the Patzcuaro region, will take a wonderful guided lakeside drive and tour to visit the artisan village of Santa Clara del Cobre, where the ancient tradition of hammered copper thrives to this day. In addition to viewing copper artisans create their craft, we will visit one more gravesite during the day to see how this village celebrates with food and music! Also, enjoy a “corunda” tamale-making workshop/demo and enjoy lunch of these regional delicacies.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
HDay 8Back to Morelia
Today you travel to the gentile and conservative city of Morelia, a colonial gem. You’ll make a couple of stops en route before arriving in Morelia where you’ll begin a City Walking tour. Morelia is a conservative city with deep traditions in higher education, music, and the arts. Highlights include The Government Palace and Alfredo Zalce Murals, Palace of Justice, Cathedral, Temple of the Roses, the former Aqueduct, and the outstanding House of Artesanias. Enjoy a fabulous farewell dinner at one of Morelia’s top-rated restaurants.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging
Hotel La Soledad or similar
IDay 9Onward
Say goodbye to Mexico. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home.
Meals
Breakfast
Anticipated plan; actual route and program may vary.
Dates & Price
Dates
Customized for you on your dates, or join a group on the following dates:
Best Time of Year to Visit
j
f
m
a
m
j
j
a
s
o
n
d
Ideal
Unpredictable
Not Recommended
Not Offered
Join a very small group for an unusual visit to Mexico’s state of Michoacán (MEECH-wa-cahn). Begin in colonial Morelia, continue to the villages of the Meseta Purepecha, and enjoy a finale on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro, where Day of the Dead traditions are believed to be more dazzling, more beautiful, more colorful, and more elaborate than anywhere else in Mexico. Michoacán is similar in many ways to Oaxaca; they both offer breathtaking vistas, large indigenous populations, and strong arts and crafts traditions. Michoacán, however, has fewer tourists and you’ll find an innocence, simplicity, and lack of pretension here.
Arrive in Morelia on a direct flight. You’ll be greeted and transferred to your lovely, centrally-located suite-hotel. Enjoy Mexican hot chocolate or other refreshments of your choosing, local-style, at the open-air portales located across from the Cathedral if flight times allow. This is a perfect setting for receiving your orientation to Michoacán.
Meals
Evening Snack
Lodging
Howard Johnsons or similar
BDay 2Uruapan / Purepecha Plateau / Angahuan Town
Today you will transfer to Uruapan and the “Meseta Purepecha,” a singular region of Mexico, a high tropical plateau, where avocados and macadamia nuts grow. You will arrive and settle into your lovely garden setting hotel, Mancion del Cupatitzio, before heading out to the town of Angahuan, where you’ll meet community members who will lead you by horseback to the volcanic remains of Paricutin, a volcano that erupted and covered the region with lava, in the 1940s. (You can choose to walk instead of horseback). You’ll enjoy a lunch of regional cuisine. Returning to your hotel, you’ll visit the lovely tropical gardens of the Eduardo Ruiz National Park, before enjoying a festive dinner of the local trout, so famous in this region.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Hotel Plaza Uruapan or similar
CDay 3Purepecha Plateau Communities
Today, you’ll visit the communities of Pomucuaran, Nurio, Cocucho, Zacan, and others, to see the incredible “Artesones”, restored temples in this region. Known as the “Ruta de Don Vasco”, you’ll learn about the work of Vasco de Quiroga and visit the “hospitals” (community centers) and temples erected in the 16th century to support the indigenous communities and Purépecha people. Learning skills that would last a lifetime, the Purépecha people today retain the legacy of Vasco de Quiroga, as we will see. Returning to Uruapan, your evening is at leisure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Hotel Plaza Uruapan or similar
DDay 4Patzcuaro
In the morning, transfer to Patzcuaro. En route, you will pay a visit to the local farmers who have been cultivating their marigold fields since May for the Day of the Dead celebrations. In this lakeside community, you can smell the lake air and the rich earth that combine to produce a bountiful harvest of marigolds. You’ll be invited to wander through the unending golden fields—an otherworldly experience!
When you arrive in Patzcuaro itself, you’ll be welcomed into your cozy B & B. Settle in for a three-night stay. The location could not possibly be better for imbibing the spirit of Day of the Dead. The flower market, a colorful hub of activity day and night leading up to the holiday, is right outside your front door. On a guided walking tour of Patzcuaro, visit the basilica, large and small town squares, and the House of Eleven Patios. The markets will be overflowing with Day of the Dead goodies, including food miniatures that locals buy for their family altars, and the dramatic, whimsical “Catrina” dolls—skeletons made of ceramic or wood and dressed in the highest of fashion. Evening at leisure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
EDay 5Tzintzuntzan Ruins and Santa Fe de la Laguna
After breakfast, you will travel to the lakeside ruins of the pre-Hispanic Purepecha empire in Tzintzuntzan. Little is known about the early Purepecha people, referred to as Tarascans by the Spanish, but it is believed that they are descendants of peoples from northwestern Mexico, known as the Chichimecas.
After visiting the present-day village and artisans of Tzintzuntzan, you’ll travel to the community of Santa Fe de la Laguna to learn about the work of Vasco de Quiroga with the Purepecha communities. We will enjoy a lunch of regional cuisine prepared by a local traditional cook. The rest of the evening is at your leisure, before your overnight at the B&B.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
FDay 6Janitzio
Rising before dawn, head out for an early morning boat journey across Lake Patzcuaro to the island community of Janitzio. Travel early in order to witness the Vigil of the Little Angels, where the souls of children who have died are visited. Following the return boat journey, the afternoon is free for you to stroll and shop in Patzcuaro, and to rest and relax for your nighttime departure to witness the all-night graveside vigils that take place in the communities surrounding Lake Patzcuaro. Here, you will undoubtedly further your understanding of the Mexican views about life and death.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
GDay 7Santa Clara del Cobre
On our final day in the Patzcuaro region, will take a wonderful guided lakeside drive and tour to visit the artisan village of Santa Clara del Cobre, where the ancient tradition of hammered copper thrives to this day. In addition to viewing copper artisans create their craft, we will visit one more gravesite during the day to see how this village celebrates with food and music! Also, enjoy a “corunda” tamale-making workshop/demo and enjoy lunch of these regional delicacies.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casita de Rosi or similar
HDay 8Back to Morelia
Today you travel to the gentile and conservative city of Morelia, a colonial gem. You’ll make a couple of stops en route before arriving in Morelia where you’ll begin a City Walking tour. Morelia is a conservative city with deep traditions in higher education, music, and the arts. Highlights include The Government Palace and Alfredo Zalce Murals, Palace of Justice, Cathedral, Temple of the Roses, the former Aqueduct, and the outstanding House of Artesanias. Enjoy a fabulous farewell dinner at one of Morelia’s top-rated restaurants.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging
Hotel La Soledad or similar
IDay 9Onward
Say goodbye to Mexico. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home.
Meals
Breakfast
Anticipated plan; actual route and program may vary.
Travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip, please ensure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to take part in the listed activities. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide, any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or inconvenience to the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
On this journey, we will visit gravesites at night. Visibility is by candlelight only, and the terrain of the gravesites is often uneven with dips and bumps that require careful attention to walking while observing. We also visit an Island, requiring walking up multiple sets of stairs to get to the cemetery of the island. And, in Patzcuaro, walking requires navigating cobblestone streets and hilly streets (ups and downs).
The ability to maintain a reasonable walking pace, allowing the group to stay together. More specifically, you must be capable, without assistance, of walking a minimum of one mile over uneven terrain and climbing stairs that may not have handrails.
Please note that this trip operates under different payment and cancellation policies than those described in our complete Terms & Conditions as noted on our website and elsewhere. Please review the complete Terms & Conditions prior to submitting a deposit.
Expenses covered
Normally, our stated land costs include the cost of all guides, leaders, permits obtained after arrival, lodging accommodations, food and entry fees as specified, and all surface transportation associated with the planned itinerary. We do our best to avoid increasing prices after receipt of your deposit, but, rarely, factors beyond our control might require us to change our prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up.
Expenses not covered
Costs not included in the price may include: meals not indicated as included in itineraries; meals prior to arrival in starting cities; transfers, if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights; soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages; medical expenses, costs of hospitalization, or evacuation from remote areas; laundry; airport departure taxes not included on your airline ticket; accommodations en route to starting cities; visas; airfares; gratuities; and insurance.
Deposit and payment schedule
$800 per person per trip or the applicable amount based on the trip and the proximity of the departure date. (Note: this schedule supersedes that listed in the general Terms and Conditions.) A second deposit of $1000 per person is due four months prior to departure, and the final payment for land arrangements is due 60 days prior to departure. Any applicable permit fees required in advance are non-refundable as well. Airlines require full payment when tickets are issued. The deposit may be made by Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express, or check, and the Reservation Form may be submitted via our website. Full payment schedule and cancellation penalties are described in our Terms and Conditions as noted on our website, and elsewhere. Please request these if you do not have them before advancing a deposit.
Airfare
We can help you secure air travel arrangements to correspond with land travel booked through Journeys International. We work with an airfare consolidator to assist in booking the flights that suit your needs. If you decide to make your own flight arrangements, you must provide Journeys International with a complete copy of your itinerary showing departure and arrival flights and times. You should plan to arrange your own air travel if you are using mileage credit or originating outside North America, but please be in touch with our office before you finalize ticketing so that we can help you to coordinate the correct arrival and departure dates and times.
Insurance
When you make your reservation, we strongly recommend the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance in case of emergency situations. Please contact us for a recommended policy.
Itinerary Change Fee
There will be a $40 fee for changes once an itinerary has been confirmed and approved. Additional cancellation penalties or change fees may apply as per our terms and conditions. The passenger is responsible for such fees.
Duration 9 Days
The number of days, or duration, in a destination corresponds with the itinerary as published. This is the time period covered by the land cost. The total number of days includes the time required to travel between the USA and the destination country.
Group Size 2 - 15
The stated range indicates minimum required for guaranteed departure and maximum accepted on the scheduled dates. Exceptions can often be made for private departures.
Comfort Level
Superior
Delightful hotels
Activity Level
Active
walking on uneven terrain and nighttime visitation of the graves
Why Journeys International
Our purpose is to understand the journey you are on – not just the vacation you want to take – and to help you on your way.
We are here to help you plan the trip that will move you closer to your goals and help you fulfill your dreams.
We are here to help you plan a more inspiring, more provocative, more breathtaking, more transformational adventure.
We say “adventure” and not “trip” because, for us, a trip is just going someplace else, but an adventure is an experience that takes you someplace beyond your comfort zone – and therefore maximizes the potential for wonder, discovery, and potentially transformation.
Why trust Journeys to plan that kind of experience with you?
Journeys is an award-winning industry-leader with more than 40 years in business planning creative and thoughtful adventures in interesting places around the world
Our staff is professional and devoted, with adventure specialists in Ann Arbor and guides in the field who take pride in traveler satisfaction; many stay with us for decades
Our Ecological Code of Ethics has long stood as a model for others, and our Earth Preservation Fund puts our money where our mouth is
We go to the farthest corners of the earth – you’ll see some pretty remote destinations on our list, and if you want to challenge us with something new, we’ll likely be willing (though we’ll make sure you know if we’ve never experienced it firsthand)
We’re real people like you, starting with the real person who will answer the phone, right through the owner, Robin Pollak, who you can talk to any time you want (or even her parents, Joan & Will Weber, who started the company!)
We ask lots of questions and get to know you as well as possible to we can design the best experience for YOU
Your unique itinerary includes sites, accommodations, activities, and meetings with people hand selected for personal goals, passions, interests and abilities
Your personal adventure specialist stays with you from trip planning through departure to answer all your questions – promptly – and make sure every detail is handled so you are well prepared for your trip
Our partners on the ground in your destination will welcome you as a friend of a friend; we’ve been working with many of them for ages
We’re open and clear, and offer a complete picture of what you can expect while traveling. We don’t want to make an easy sale; we want to make an honest one.
24-hour emergency phone support while traveling
We’ll be excited to hear about the trip when you get back, and take all feedback seriously
Our travelers come back again and again, for five, ten, or more adventures — and they trust us enough to send their friends to us, too
We love what we do, and we love sharing our common passion with you.
Match the trip’s intensity to your ability and motivation.
Gentle
Easy walking, with opportunities for low-key physical activity.
Active
Energetic exploration with optional day hikes, leisurely cycling, or light canoeing.
Vigorous
Day-long active excursions and options for demanding activity in varied environments.
Challenging
Strenuous hiking or other intense activity that may be at high altitude or over rough terrain.
Demanding
Multi-day trekking and other activities requiring endurance or strength. Steep trails. No technical expertise necessary.
Comfort Level
Choose accommodations and amenities that fit your personal style
Simple
Our most natural accommodations. Bath facilities often shared, sometimes rustic.
Delightful
Comfortable and especially personal. Small to mid-sized lodges, typically with private bath.
Superior
Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined artistry, or extra-special settings.
Deluxe
Exclusive or luxury lodges, hotels, or safari camps with fine dining options.
Uncommon
The most indulgent accommodations arranged specially for private trips.
Single Supplement
The single supplement is applicable if a roommate is not available or if single accommodation is specifically requested. While single accommodation is not available on all trips, we will try and honor this request whenever possible.